The Hood River glacier., April 28, 1904, Image 6

Q
o
o
Second Cousin arah .H
r re
"ahub jvdsb, apiNsren," "littie matb tinar."
etc.. era . ,
CHAPTER XXlIl.-lContlnued.l
It was dark when he returned to the
house, and he closed the shatters nod
birred the door very carefully before he
tt down by the fire to reflect upon his
next step. He hid been reflecting on that
11 day, without seeing his way too clear
ly to the results on which he had set Ms
heart a large sum of money, and a new
Ufa abroad to enjoy It In.
He would not go upstairs yet awhile
another hour would be of advantage to
him, and he must wait The bank at
Worcester was shut, and there would be
no getting money till to-morrow morning
before that time tame she would sign
the check, and remain a prisoner In
Jackson's button factory until time had
been allowed for him to cash It Thnt
was the end of the brilliant scheme which
he bad planned out like an artist
Suddenly there waa a violent knocking
at the door, and Peterson sprang np, with
bla hand shaking on the back of the chair.
He reached his hand toward the candle
and extinguished the flame, aa his tlrst
resource against an unseen enemy. Teh en
he crept on tiptoe toward the door.
"Who's there V
"Let me In."
"Tom East bell!" ejaculated Peteraon.
Re opened the door, and dragged the
applicant for admittance into the house
bj the collar of his coat a man drench
ed to the akin by heavy rain.
"You muddlerl" ahouted Petiraon;
"why couldn't you stop at Bedge Hill?
How dare, you come intermeddling?
Didn't you tears it all to me"?"
"Here let go my throat let a fellow
peak, What are yon doing In the dark?
Where are they all? Is Sarah here?
has she signed the check?"
Peterson released 'hi hold and locked
the front door again. Tom followed Mm
Into the room, and sat down shivering
by the fire. His companion and adviser
relighted the candle, and held It to bla
face.
"Why did you comer'
"For aafety. Oh, Ned, I ahall be hang
ed I" Tom cried. "The old woman la
dead, and everybody thinks I have done
It Here's a blessed go for an lnnerscnt
maul I never touched her, upon my soul;
he died right off, bang. In the picture
gallery, and it was nothing to do with
Die, I wouldn't have thought of such
thing."
"Dead? The old woman dead f aald
Peterson, surprised again at this avowal.
"Oh I ugh! yes," be said, shuddering
more strongly. "Her eyes opened sud
den; Ned, and aha waa off. I ahall never
forgot it. And then the beast of wom
an. Hartley, came In when I screanvtd,
and said that I had murdered her. I wua
talking her over to make a will, when
he died that's all. Oh! let'a go to Lon
don." "Tom," said Peterson with excitement,
"you must go bade. You must not leave
everything to that Culwlck. The old
woman has died naturally the doctor
wllf prove that and you hare nothing to
fear."
"Oh I haven't I? That' all you know
bout it."
"You accursed Idiot! don't you see that
you are rich? that Sarah Eastbell was
only between you and a colossal fortune?
and Barah Haatbell is dead, too."
"Sarah dead, tool" screamed Tom
Eastbell fun hla -new excitement; "oh,
don't aay that It can't be."
"Hualil Keep It quiet; It la an eternal
Secret befween you and me) but she
prang out of- the boat suddenly Inst
Bight, they tell me, and was drowned.
In day or two they will And her In the
Severn, and you will be heir-at-law."
"They'll any I killed the couple of
them."
"Barah ran away from home every
body knowa that and came to harm by
accident There is nothing more natural."
"Poor Bally! Bhe waa good aort,"
aid Tom; "and she ahe'a dead then.
Thank goodness tt was quite .an accident
--for nobody meant to kill her,"
. "(Jet back in haste at any coat. Bay
you were distracted, and did not know
what you were doing that you have been
In aearch of Culwlck or doctor. Get
back."
"Suppose they take me up for kilting
tny grandmother; that's what I'm afraid
of."
"Get back; you are safe. Oat back,
feol, to all that wealth."
Edward Peteraon'a excitement waa
greater than Thomas Eastbell's now. He
thruat -him from the house; be locked
the door after him; ha tottered back to
the room.
Tom Kaatbell would be rich Immense
ly rich if his sister Sarah were removed
from all the troublea of this world! Tom
Kaatbell In his power at hla mercy for
many past offenses a weak fool whom
he could rule Implicitly, and get money
quickly by.
Then, with the light In hla hand, he
proceeded with a wonderful steadiness of
tep up the stairs. A strange specimen
of villain this for he went Into his
daughter's room first, and aatd, "Poor
Bess you have gone for good then," end
walked out again, and up the remaining
flight, with very aorrowful countenance.
He drew the key from hia pocket unlock
ed the door, atrode In, and then stopped
suddenly a man struck, aa It were, Into
tone by his amasement
The room waa empty!
CHAPTER XXIV.
Reuben Culwlck did not reach Sedge
Hill till late hour, when the blinds
were down before every window of the
great house. He did not dream of death
at home while he had been abroad in
pursuit of the living, and, In the deep
thought born of his battled aearch, he
strode up the broad garden path without
being struck by the blank aspect of the
jnanaion.
"How did It occur Tell me every
thing?" he asked, aa he went Into the
picture gallery, and .Hartley followed
him. The story was related, and ha Ut
ened patiently. He heard of hla aunt's
death, and of Thoniaa Eastbell's flight
i of the suspicion which attached to Thom
as Eastbell until the doctor's arrival, and
that gentleman'a belief in the natural
termination to the Ufa and cares of the
old lady of the Inquest which must fol
low her decease.
He walked up and iwn the great pic
ture gallery in hla old restless fashion,
planning for the morrow. Suddenly he
quitted the gallery, aud went upatairs to
Aunt Eaatbell'a room, at the door of
which Hartley sat aa If the poor old
Won n needed protection still.
"Why are you waiting here now?" he
asked the servant
"If you please, sir, Mr. Thomas Kaat
bell baa come back again. Ha baa been
looking for you, and for the doctor, he
aaya and I thought that I would sit here
ustal.
"Where la the man?"
"In hla own room, changing hla clothes,
which are wet"
"We will not disturb him. Hare you
my aunt'a keys?"
There waa a little lamp upon the brack
et and he passed Into his aunt'a bed
chamber, Hartley remaining at her post.
It was soleau moment In hia life, which
W
avtmoh or
0
be remembers well. It waa bis last duty
to tbe dead woman, and to the wish? of
yesternight before the tragedy of life
fell on them like a pall.
He opened the Iron boxoln which tbe
will had been deposited, anda where
glance assured him that It lay undisturb
ed, and then he closed and locked the
box again, while the thought came to
him that It might never be of uae to
Becond-cousin Sarah.
"Ha that man come back because he
thinks o, too?" be muttered; "is It poa
slble that this should be tbe end of my
father'a money of yours, poor wom-o
heart, that never wastnade happy by its!
acquisition? If I have dims you wrong, I
old soul, I pray forgiveness now," hel
murmurea.
"Amen," said deep voice at hla aide,
and he turned at the solemn response, for
which he wss unprepared. A thin wom
an, clad In ahabby black, stood In the
doorway looking at him.
"Lucy Jennings! Ire exclaimed.
"You telegraphed to me thia morn
ing," she said, advancing; "jrou asked me
many queatlona, and I have coma to an
swer them In pe son."
"It waa kind of you, Lucy," Ira aatd,
holding out hla hand to her, "tbt I am In
great trouble."
They went out of the room together,
Reuben Culwlck locked the door, am!
gave the key to Hartley, after which
Lucy and he descended to the ball, Lucy
calym and grave.
"What do you know of tpe Petersons?
What became of them after leaving l-m-don?"
asked Reuben eagerly; "have you
clew to their address?"
"I think I have."
"How did you find It?"
"Among my circle of penitents and of
poor mortals struggling out of crime
there are many links of life to the dark
world. I found friend to help me at
once. Patience. If Barah Eastbell baa
been lured awiry by these Petersons, the
clew to their haunt haa been already
pointed out." .
"Heaven bleas you, Lucy!"
"Probably I bring bleaatng to yon
It Is In there."
Bha pointed to the door of the (rawing
room, and ha safd eagerly a he strode
toward It! -
"Barah!"
"Not she. It I something you lost be
fore your second-cousin, and took a
much to heart in losing. It Js something
that changed you and from which dated
your hardness, slid your suspicions of
me first of all. It may be your own
flesh and blood, for what I know."
He left Lucy Jennings, 'and weut with
quick step Into the drawing room, where
on the sofa lay child asleep, poorly
clad little girl of five years o(d, with
her hat lying by ber aide, and a tangled
mass of fair, wavy curls thrust back from
her face. ."
"Tots!" he cried In hi astonishment
"I met her In the streets of Worcester,
near the postolflee,'' said Lucy. "It waa
raining bard, and aha was crying because
a lady had not come to fetch her. Her
father had sent her to Worcester, she
said." . ,
"Will she remember met.
"It Is unlikely It I Impossible."
"Bhe was very young when she' went
way, poor Tola," aatd Reuben, aadly re
garding her. "Yea, i luppese it la Im
possible." "She came with ma In all confidence. I
told her that I 'would take her to her
frlenda, and she believed me." .
"You are very kind, Lucy," aald Reu
ben. "How la It that you do ma thete
good aervicea, and yet dislike ma so
much?"
"I dislike the pride and anger In you,"
answered Lucy, "and they hava turned
ma against you. hava had my great
work to think of lately not of the DVtty
differences of eighteen month ago. face,
the child la waking."
Reuben turued to the little girk who
had atruggled Into a sitting posture on
the sofa, and waa looking at thess, all
eyee all blue eyea, too aa Tota bad
looked at him In Hope street, yearn ago.
"Tote," he lata, Mvanciu te her.
"Tote, old lady don't you know me?"
Hla manner waa too Imtattuoue, and
hia quick strides toward he wen so
symbolical of punishment for on of
fense which she lu her leaoranee had
committed, that the child sprang up and
ran to Lucy Jennings, burying her faoe la
the skirts of her protector.
"The child at frightened of you," cald
Lucy, calmly; "let her be a while."
"Why, Tota, It' Uncle'Roo." he cried.
"old Uncle Roe you know!"
The child atiil clung to Lucy' skirts,
and would hava none of hia affection. He
gave up, and walked away to the win
dow.
"You aee how thla kind of love lasts,"
said Lucy bitterly, "and yet you value
it ao highly."
"Became It aet high value upao me,"
he answered quickly.
"It la dead."
"It will live again ItcWiil com hack."
"And if not," Lucy answered, "there
la your second-cousin to console you."
The opening of the door cut short tbe
claah of anna, and Thoniaa Eaatbell ad
vanced Into the room with a forced and
swaggering air. Tota clung atlll to the
akirta of Lacy Jennings, with her face
hidden In the folde. '
"Oh! you're back," he said to Reuben;
"of course you know what haa hasnened
since you've been away? I've here look
ing for you everywhere I've beea wa
ning after the doctnre If wa had a
plaguen the house, I think people would
stop In It more than they do," said Tom
Eaatbell. "Who' this
"My nam I Jenninge," aald Lucy,
"Oh! you're Jentilitga. I have, heard
of you, but I don't know that we have
ever met before. 41 ay I aak what yon
want, marm, now you are here?" asked
Thomas. "You'll excuse me, but alnce
my grandmother's death mid Sally's dis
appearanceand until Bally returns
I consider I am the head of thla estab
lishment" "I am compelled to answer your ques
tion If this Is true statement" uid
Lucy.
"Yes, I should think you were. True
Indeed that'a a good one! Why, you
don't know that my poor grandmother
killed herself thinking about me," he naid.
"She waa worried eh e wanted to leave
me all her money and aheadied of dis
appointment Iwrauae she hadn't time to
finish her new will."
He addressed Lucy Jenninge, but he
waa watching the effect of thia announce
ment upon Reuben Culwlck from the cor
ner of hia eyea.
It ia heaven'a mercy that your grand-J
moiner niea men, replied l.ucy to nun.
"I have been tasking inquiries concern
ing yon to-d, and I have heard of noth
ing to your advantage. You and one Ed
waigj Peteraon were In thla houae, from
which your sister haa disappeared,' aald
Lucy. "Among my congregation Mere
were two or three who remembered the
I'etersona, and thought they they could
be traced. Wa art searching for them
now under the nam of Jackson."
Thoniaa Eaatbell put on band to hla
ahlrt collar; hia throat had begun to,
JJ I- - . V, ..I. nnnnmfnvtlhU. -
"Oh," be said, "If that'a It you'r on
wrone "
Tots had looked round at the sound of
his voice some moments tine, but he had
not noticedher till then, and then his
voic utterly deserted him, and hi eye
protruded in amazement He did not aak
any further question of Mis Jennlng.
The child belonged to Edwrd Peterson.
He and hla wife had the charge of her
once, and grown tired of her, and lost her
in a Camberwell back etreet, where Reu
ben had found her; and Edward Petersen
had discorered her a year or so after
ward, and taken her from th JennlnKe;
but he could not atop to explain Hat
now. A few daya ago that child waa
at Jackson'a button factory, and she
must bar coma to Sedge Hill with the
news. He waa caught In trap again.
He knew ft had not been aafe to return,
but that fool Feterson had persuaded
him. They knew all, and were getting
blm Into a Una by degreea; everything
might have been discovered, for what he
knew to the contrary. Ha mut "cut It,"
mt rink
He went Into the passag and closed
the doog, bellied Dim. lie tow oown a
hat from the tree In the hall and put it
am T ... I?..,.!...,,' Tm? anA went over
hi eyes, and waa altogether bad fit; but
the sooner he waa off the better, and
m-t,M v.- hail nut him ami hat ha could
not recollect In the preaent confusion of
hi faculties.
He went off tlpto to the front door,
and drew back the heavy bolt and th
big lock, lie opened tne aoor ana wi
In .th wind and rain and Sarah Bast-
bellt
Yea, It waa bla alster, with a shawl
over her hair, and her'face, whit and
wild, peering from it She bad vme
back ah knew all ha waa done for!
"Tom, you villain!" aha ahrleked forth,
at first eight of him.
Thomas Eaatbell went down on hla
knna at ihm mttmi moment Am Reuben
came from the drawing room.
"Ob, Keubenl take care oi me, oaran
murmured, a she went fearlessly to th
friendly (belter of hi arms; "I have no
one else."
"Bha could never take care of herself,"
muttered th Inflexible Lucy, aa aha fol
lowed Reuben Culwlck Into the ball.
It waa aa Mary Holland bad aald, and
Sarah Eastbell waa back In her own
houae.
(To be continued.)
COLOML TOLD Trtt TRUTH.
Got Half a atof and Won Caat So th
Naawo Who Btole It
"The Weat baa some great lawyers,"
aid the Miaaourl colonel to the crowd
that had been discussing rapid-fire
cases In court.
"Oil, I don't know,'" ald the young
lawyer from Hackensack; "suppose
you name a few of them?"
"Well," replied the colonel, "there'
old Jed Thomson and Zeb Blackburn
and Col. Ike Hilton, all of Christian
County. Missouri, and anyone of them
can gW you Kaaternjrs every spade
In tbe deck, except one and then win.
"Take Col. Ike Hilton, for Instance.
Why, ewe when he wa both lawyer
and. witness. It wa the fall term of
court at the county seat of Christian
County. Tbe first case on "the docket
was that of a negro charged with
teallnj a fattening bog. -
"There were not many nero In
Christian County, for the simple rea
son that they had to tan3 for about
everything that happened In the crlnr
lnal line, and consequently got consld
erably thinned out. The one In thle
case wa the only negro In tbe towa
sblp where th man lived who lust tbe
hog, and when It disappeared be had
hlra arrested on general principle.
That time It happened that tbe negro
was guilty.
"Aa soon as Llnh-hli same was
Lincoln Washington, but they called
blm 'Link' for etort-as soon aa Link
was arrested he sent for Cot. Ike, aad,
as Link owned a little farm and had
some live stock, Col. Ike reapoatled
readily.
" 'Link,' !) CoL Ik, 'I giieaa- you
got that b
"Link wa alWnt, fo be dU awt
know wbetlM it would be sate te con
fess. " t'ome, new,' uM Col. Ia, si apple
hla on tbe tech, 'you r that keaj,
and If yiMi do't awa uj I cu't take
yonr cm.'
"Link squirmed uneaetly.
" 'Yaas, sab,' be aJi, 'Ah gue A
ha. Col. Ike.'
" 'That's the stuff!' reefed Col. Ike,
reassuringly. 'Where 1 the bog now?1
" 'It am kilt an' dreat an' er hangla'
tn niah smokehouse,' answered Llak.
"'All right, Link; now let me tail
you what to do. I'm gulng to get yo
loose, and as aooa as you go horn f
want you to cut that hog exactly la
two and bring n hlf. Do you bear?
Then you have me rammend for a
witness.'
"Link heard and agreed, and tbe
neit day there M fresh newt at CoL
Ike's hoe.
"When the rase waa called (.Ink ap
peared, wearing a serene null. The
court wa both surprised and lmpr
ed to tint that he had such an Influet
tlal wttnea. Two other witneeee were
cnHed first for a bhiff, ad the Col.
Ike took the stand.
"In response to the ctetoBMu-y que
tta, "What A you know About thla
ce?' Cot. U aware polntblank to
Link's Uuiocevce'.
" 'I know,' he (Mid, 'that Link Wash
ington here Ias ao more of that hog
than I have!'
"Of course, auch teatlmony was In.
vlnclbh). and I.luk wa not only (ac
quitted, but exonerated."
"Now," continued the traveling man,
according to the New York Times,
' we'll hear from the East."
Hie Kaplaaation,
Why are people who buy gold brlcka
Invariably farmera-V" asked the man
who assumes superiority. "
"I dunno," answered Mr. Corntossel,
"unless It's because farmers are the
only folks nowadays who have money
enough to make It worth while for
sharpers to bothcg with 'em." Wash
ington Star.
Almost Klaht
"What do you know about thla case?"
asked the lawyer.
"Nothing," replied the witness. "I'm
th expert."
Subsequently his testimony proved
conclusively that be knew less than
nothing. Chicago Tribune.
A Suspect,
She You didn't stay long In London.
He No, I couldu't stand It Over
there everybody knew me for an A mer
le n right away. Here, In New (fork,
no one ever suspect It Smart Set
THAT dOLD SWEETHEART OF MINE.
I have see3l a wondrous picture of "that old sweetheaft of mine,"
Of the girl whose soul fairer than the world's most sacred shrine;
And tbe long months seemed anothlng, for I beard her softly sigh,
And once more I was ber lover In tbe happy day gone by. -
And I stood there gazing on her aa a soul from outer space
Gazes through the gates of heaven on an angel's deathless face;
All the world around forgotten; all tbe past a mystic dream; '
With the old love burning In me and It passion all supreme.
Every nerve within my being seemed a harp string tuned to lov.
Trembling with the music learned from Israel above, ,
As I stood there In the silence with her fair face close to mine, .
And my tired spirit longing foj the days that were dlvln.
Slowly farett tbe ship of evening out into the sea of night;
Sfewly Into darkness faded all save mem'ry'a holy light;
And the dream of life was ended. But tbe stars, of mem'ry shine .
Through the soul's wide-open windows o "that old sweetheart of mine."
1 THE CQNSEQUExT
rrp HE doctor looked Into the wom
JP an' brave eyes and slowly pro-
nounced her sentence.
"The operation must take place with
in a few days or "
"Or what?. : .: . r.
"It may be too late to operate at all."
'And I will get through It safely?"
"I hope so."
"You ire not sure. You think there
U a risk?" .-,
"There Is always a risk In every
operation," he answered evasively.
"Tell me tbe truth, doctor; I can bear
It" .
The old man looked Into tbe desper
ate eyes and put Jila hand gently on
the woman's shoulder.
"You are a brave woman. I wjll tell
you the trutb. ' This operation will be
a 'Very serloua one In fact, there Is
only a chance that you will survive it
But there Is' a chance, and for the sake
of It you must not lose heart!"
'"Couldn't I wait till next month
Just for a fevr weeks longer? It surely
would not make any difference If It
was postponed till then."
"My child," tbe dqctor answered, "If
we postponed It for a few weeks, for
even one week, you will lose your one
cbance of recovery. Besides, you will
suffer such agony that your life win
be unbearable. Let me advise you, 'and
make up your mind to go through It
immediately."
"Immediately?"
"Within the next few dnys. You
must go Intt) tbe hospital to-morrow to
be prepared for it"
Then be explained tbe arrangements
he would make for her, and after lis
tening In a dazed, half-stupid fashion,
Elizabeth said "good-by" to blm, and
wearily went out In the cold and dark
ness of tlio December evening.
Bhe drove alone in a hansom with
tears running down ber white cheeks,
and ber heart rebelling at the cruel
band of Fate that had so unsparingly
dealt ber this blow. Had sbe deserved
It? Was this trial sent to her because
be had sat one man upon a pedestal
and worshiped him to tbe exclusion or
the whole world? Or was it because
she, like a fool, had thrust away with
laughing eye the happiness that had
beeu held out to ber, and the gods had
guessed It was only a freak, and were
punishing ber because she Insolently
played with the best thing they had to
give? Wx month ago,, when David
Moore bad started to tell ber how dear
he wa te Win, sbe had stopped him
with a laughs and bad warned him that
tt would Us wiser to wait till he re
turned frees abrosd before be decided
tkat ska we tlis "only woman In the
world." She did not know why ahe
bad & it; why, when her heart wa
eravlHg fee hi love, sbe had coquetted
ad warded Ms ot. But right deep
dowa she knew that it was for his own
sake, to give him a fair chance of see
ing other younger, more beautiful
women, before sbe let him tell Ber that
ahe wa ttas best of all.
"I'll ha' sack In (lx months, Eliza
beth," k mM, holding her hands, tight
ly, and kwklng Into the sweet gray
eyre. "I'll come straight to you. You
III ltoten te me then; you will then
believe tbt I am In earnest" And so
h left be.
And mw the ia month were at an
end; fee that mornlu) a telegram had
come tolling her of his arrival In Eng
land, and te expect to see him to-night
Sbe had lived every- hour of her life
In (fee Mentha for David; everything
she did' wae for hi sake was to
please Mat. And now, when tbe time
had redly come, and, he would be with
her in a few hour, she must gather
up her tregth and lend him away
lthout a word ot love, without a tgn
of regrei j
It wa beeaaae tbe pain bad wasted
ao fiercely throuh the night that be
determined t go to a doctor to beg
for something te give ber relief, for
the time at Jeait the hdd gone, and'
hid hd her srence pronounced.
Although Ne bad1 not actually aald so,
Elizabeth gueawed that even If ahe did
survive the operation ahe would al
ways be a weak, delicate woman. And
in ber great love abe decided to lacii
fice even one hour of Joy ahe could
never bear to be a drag on David, abe
mut send him away again without ex
plaining tbe reason,
When she arrived at tht bouse where
abe lived ,ki Kensington, she turned
down the lamps under their red shades
and told the maid to put more coal on
the fire. She decided to postpone her
preparation of ber lllnesa until after
ber visitor bad gone. Bhe would only
have time now to prepare heaself for
the acene sbe must go through with
him.
After she had some tea sbe went to
her room. The frock sbe bad chosen to
wear waa gOIng on tjje bed. It waa a
soft blue silk, and was very simply
made. Quickly she put it back into
the wardrobe and took down one that
wa just sufficiently old-fashioned to
be dowdy.
"Molly saldol look twenty In blue
and thirty-five tn black.1 she whis
pered, as sbe laid It ene bed.
Then the unfastened her hair. She
remembered som one saying, "To part
the hair In the center either makes a
woman look much older or much
younger than sbe actually Is. I think,
Elizabeth, that it makes you look much
older." Taking up the comb, sbe care
fully made a parting down tbe center
of bet head and twisted her hair Into a
tight knob at tbe back. . .
Tbe reflection that the mirror sent
back to her made ber shudder.
Then sbe put on the dowdy black
frock. Ugh! she did look plain and old
and commonplace. No man cquld make
rove to a woman who looked like that
And of all men, not David Moore, for
she knew so well that be liked a wom
an to be good to look at
Having finished her strange toilet,
she went down to her sitting room, and
watted. Fifteen minute later ber vis
itor came.
Elizabeth saw him start and the sur
prised look In bis. eye a she held out
her hand to him and asked coolly how
tje bad enjoyed his trip,
"Are you ill, Elizabeth V he said,
quickly, without answering ber, and
looking anxiously at tbe face that had
changed almost .beyond recognition
since be last saw It
"No, no! Why should I be ill?"
"You look so white and "
"Old," she finished. "Well, I am six
months older you must remember
since you went away, and I am not the
type of woman who wears well."
"Is anything the matter? Are you
In trouble?"
"What should there be Jo trouble
me? I never do anything but bave a
good time. I love excitement, and all
that sort of thing."
The man looked as if he was. not
sure he. had heard aright
"No," Elizabeth continued. "I am
not really different, but you'bave been
accustomed to fresh young faces late
ly,' and so poor mine aeems old and
withered In comparison. But please
don't waste the time in discussing my
appearance: Tell me how you enjoyed
your visit"
"Fairly; but I was so anxious to get
back to London to see you again that
I did not think much about It. You
know why I wished to be here by the
15th, Elizabeth?"
Bhe looked as though she Was trying
to remember.
"Darling," be went on, coming close
to her, "you have not forgotten that
you said you would listen to me when
I returned. You know, without any
words, that you are the dearest wom
an in the world to me, and that I wish
you for my wife."
"Your wife!" she echoed, with a
sneering laugh. "Thank you, no. I
must decline the honor."
"Elizabeth!" and bis face went white
ac he held her hands tightly, "what do
you mean?"
"Just that," ate said. "I decline the
honor."
"Then," and he dropped her hands
anditurned away, "I had better go. I
was a conceited fool. Forgive me.
My love for you has carried me too
far."
Even in the half-lit room, Eliza
beth's face looked strangely white as
she put her band to her side and lean
ed back In the cushions.
But she laughed again.
"Ah, it does not matter. You will
forget it as readily as I will. And per
haps, after all, it was my own fault.
But you must always allow for a' wom
an changing her affections, tt is a
woman'a way, you know."
"No, I did not know," coldjy.
"Why not? She may vary her frocks
why not ber affections?"
"For heaven's sake, don't talk like
that You might be a heartless flirt
by your tone."
"I hardly think I am that, for your
sex. does not Interest me sufficiently.
But I am a woman of tbe world, and
not a silly, love-lck girl."
"I never imagined you to be a willy,
love-sick girl, any more than I thought
of you as a 'woman of tbe world,' as
you put it. Perhaps It will amuse you
to hear that I was foolish enough to
think you were well, altogether dif
ferent." "Yes, it Is rather 'absurd," she an
swered, driving her nails Into her left
hand aa ahe stood up and held out her
right one. to him. "Goodby. Theft Is
no need to extend this interview. Be
sides, I am busy to-night You will
excuse me."
He took her band and held It tight
ly, aa he looked into tbe tired gray
eyes. '
"Elizabeth, Elizabeth," he whisper
ed, "what does it all mean? Have you
nothing kind to say to .me?"
"Yes; forget me as sood as you can.
And you will lose your Wauty sleep
if you don't go quickly."
He dropped her hand and went out
of the bouse,
Her acting had been a? success, too
much of a success, for not only bad
he gone away with the Idea that she
wa Indifferent to him, but h bad
forced him to despise ber for her lev
ity. Yet, after all. It wa better tbu;
It would be leas difficult for him to
cast her out of hi heart
She certainly did look plain. Yet ber
appearance had not made any differ
ence to him. Ahl that look of concern
In hla eyea when he asked her If the
was 111. Why couldn't she have told
him? It would bave been so iweet to
have bad bla loving aympathyt
And if ber operation waa to be aie
rious, and the result as fatal, as abe
feared, waa there not (pine way In
which ahe might, before it wag too
late, wipe out fhe false Impression he
badj made to-night? Sbe could not
bear the thought that be would think
bitterly of her afterward. Surely It
would be some comfort to him to know
the truth then. Yes, he must be told,
ghe would write a letter and confess
all. If she lived, It must be destroyed;
If sbe died. It must be delivered.
"I uve en you away from me,"
he wrote, "aud am now breaking my
heart because I will never look into
your face again. David, to-night I
acted a part to you. I forced myself
to be cold and false. I made mysejf
a fright to prevent you telling me of
your love. I knew that if you did ao
I would not bave the strength to re
list you. I didr- not want you to guess
that I cared. I wanted you to think
me a heartless flirt to despise me
anything, rather than you should re
gret or bave a heart-ache.
"To-day my doctor told me that I
must go under the knlfa wltltln the
next few dioys. He said that there
was slight cbance, but In my heart
I know that, If I do live, I will be a
weak, sickly woman. But I don't be
lieve there la a chance, ao I want to
tell you how dear you are to me be
fore It la too late. I love you as ofily a
woman can lave a man who represents
everything tbst Is good and strong and
true to her. For nearly two years I
have waited to hear you say what you
said to-night Six months ago I pre
vented you because I was not quite
sure; I thought it would be wiser for
yoa to wait until yeu returned. I
could not realise that the glory of your
love should be - showered on me. I
thought It fair for you to see other
women before you offered your life to
nje.
- "David, I want you to understand
how desperately hard It was to refuse,
to listen to you to-night It whs the
greatest sacrifice I bav ever made, In
my life, and I prayed for strength to
do It. My whole being revolted at tbe
part I sat myself to play, although I
felt It was best for you now and af
terward, . Can you forgive me, Da
vid?" Sbe then rang for her maid, and, sof
ter explaining about wnat was to hap
pen to ber, she gav her the letter and
aald what she wished her to do with
it
No surgeon oaa ever be quite certain
to what length a disease has spread
until he starts to use the knife, and
oftentimes he find It more or less se
rious than be sntkclpated.
fto it was that when Dr. lenders
commenced to operate on Ilzabeth
Treat be waa agreeably surprised to
find that, In teed of ber case being
most complicated, It wai ' merely tn
ordinry one.
"Sbe will be all right now; nurse,"
the great urgeon said after tbe opera
tion. "Fortunately, It has not been so
erioue we feared. It 1 a decidedly
interesting caae, and- (be -will pull
through ifileadldly with careful nur
lng." It waa two weeks later when Eliza
beth asked ber maid If she bad de
strayed th letter ihe bad given to hei
the eve f the operation.
"Deatroy It, Mia Elisabeth?" the
woman answered. "I though you Mid
to poet it if you lived.
"Oh, Harmon! Yov surely have not
sent that letter?"
"Yes, Hie Elisabeth, I have. I
thought yeu wanted me to destroy It
If anything happened- to you, and to
post It If you got safely through the
operation. I waited until lest nljht to
make ur that yoa did not bave a re-'
lapee, then I thought.it waa time."
Before Bllaabeth eould answer, a
nursa cam ia with a florlet's boa in
her hand and bright amila aa bar
face.
"Thla fct fee yea, Mlaa Treat," ahe
aid. "Shall I unfasten it?"
Elisabeth cried ot ia joyous sur
priae at the wealth of beautiful flow
er with which tbe boa wa tiled. But
her eyea weat beyond them to a letter
that lay partly hidden la their leave.
"It le froaa David," she whispered
softly, ae eha gssad at th dear, fa
miliar haaatwritlHg. A she opened It
with quick, trembling Angers, the
nurse and Bersnoa quietly weat out
of the reoea.
"My darling," Elisabeth read, "I
have jaet received your letter. Only
half an boar before, I met Mansield,
and he teld aae of your lllnesa. I
thought he saaat be aaketehea. but he
eld bt Wife bad baaa to at you at
th hospital yesterday, My first Im
pulse waa to e and beg- them to let
me see yoa, bat I remembered' that
you would net care te have me. Feel
ing deadly laiaMable, I went back te
my room, tad there found yonr letter
waiting far ate. Oh, Elisabeth! It
seeme too wonderful te be true tbat
you uoH lev ue like that Why,
my dear, yoa were never more lovable
in my eye thaa yea were that lght.
You locked 111 sad tired, and I longed
to have the right te take care ef you
and Meld yea from all annoyance.
Wbea I rewMnabew the bard thiage I
aald I feel that tt will take all my
life te eadeavor te wipe them out.
EllzaWh, aim oat as seaa as you read
this I will be wH yon. Aa then
my atonement will comateace." Hack
and White.
tS CoawtaMoaa,
A respectable-looking man of middle
ag appjled one nlght for free lodg
ings at one of tbe police stations In
Chicago, "I bave tramped all over this
town," he said, "looking for work, and
can'tflnd any."
"I understand they are short of help
at the stock-yard a," said the desk ser
geant "You might get a job there
for a few weeks, anyhow."
b "At the stock-yards" exclaimed the
other, fin a voice trembling with Indig
nation. "I wouldn't work there for
fifty dollara a day If I were starving
to death!" 0
"Why not?"
"Because, air, Tm a vegetarian."
Fraffraace of White Flower.
Planta with white blossom hava a
larger proportion of fragrant Sowers
than any other.
man who cant talk and will talk
should be muuied.
GEO. P. CROWELL,
fgucMMOt to I. L. Smith,
Oldest Ksubliahed Hoase in ike valley.)
' 4
'"V
DEALESPlN
..- - ,
o
Dry Goods, Groceries,
Boots and Shoes,
Hardware, . .
Flour and Feed, etc. .
Th is old-established house will con
tinue to pay cash for al Its goods; it
pays no rent; it employs a clerk, but
does not have to divide with a partner.
All dividends are (bade withustomers
in the wy oj reasonable prices.
Lumber
Wood,
Posts, Etc.
Davenport Bros.
Lumber Co.
' Have, opened an office in Hood River.
Call and get prices and leava orders,
which will be promptly filled. '
THE GLACIER
Published Every Thursday
$1.60 A YEAR.
Advertising, 60 cents per Inch, single
column, per month; one-half inch or
less, 25 rents. Reading notices, 6 cents
a line each insertion.
THE GLACIER prints all the local
news fit to print".
When you see it in THE GLACIER
you may know that others tee it.
B'
ON TOW BARBER SHOP
t. c. HaVnis, Pior.
The place to get an easy shave, an op-to-4ats
haircut, and to enjoy the luxury of aeorc.IMB
bath tub.
flk E. WELCH,
THE. VETERINARY SURGEOI.
Has returned to Hood River and la prepared
to do any work In the veterinary. line. B om
be found by calling at or phoning to darks'
drug store. '
JHE NEW FEED BTORE,
On the Mount Hood road, south of tov-a.
keeps constantly on hand the best quality ol
uroceries, uay, ursin ana rj at
prices.
D. F. LAMAR, Proprietor.
gOREKA MEAT MARKET,
McQUIRK BROS., Props.
Peelers In Freeh and Cured Meats, Lard,
Poultry, Fruits aud Vegetables.
FREE DELIVERY.
PHONS M
f) Sfioir um
Union Pacific
tSkWk. sf
Sarin Tl SCRtDULM
pariT r.rtHss. Of.
- Chteaa aiiit Lak. IXnvw, .
torllsnd Ft Wortn.Omehs,
BfM Imsm CUV, St.
m. Loufc,Cbioasan
via aaat.
Tanttneoa.
ItlanM at.Paairat)Mati. .
wsprssa
:U f.m
Via
JhwHawtost. -&
TO HOURS
PORTLAND TO CHICAGO
No Change ctf Crt.
awe lata). .ulekejt Tlaat.
OCEAN AND RIVER SCHEDULE
raai OKTLAa.
. All Bailing dsUi !:))(
subjeet to ehana
ForatBjFranriwe
alleverj s dr
Dslly Cehmkla Hit (ee,B.
K;uDda Bmsmts. Sx. Sunday
mem.
Iturdr Xs Astertsan War
M;W p. m. Landing.
J UJ. ,nmtm mm. 1:10 p. m.
""V1- . , Tues'Tha-
aa4FrL Salem, Inflepen- a&L
O.DC, HWllls
and way 'tiHIngs
o
1MLB. Tiatie Kim. 4:SSm.aa,
faes.. Ihur. Moa- We4
sal fctl Oregon Cttv.Davton sadrri,
and war landings.
O
' o
L. Rlparta task IDvee. Lv.Lertoea
4:06 a. av 1:0 a. sl
ttilj exo.pt Ufhria te Lewis ton DaUy exeeae
aaturaay Filajj.
A. L. CRA1Q.
eaeealPaaasagerAgwai Pertlaa40r
, BOAB, A cut, Hee4 aUvaa.